Soil Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Contaminants in NE England (2016)

Soil samples from 24 rural and urban locations in northeastern England provide concentrations of nearly 300 antimicrobial resistance genes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 12 potentially toxic elements. Researchers at Newcastle University collected topsoil data during a June 2016 expedition to assess pollution impacts.

Use Cases

• Correlate concentrations of specific antimicrobial resistance genes with levels of metals like lead or cadmium across 24 sampling sites.
• Analyze the distribution of US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons relative to landscape conditions and urban/rural location types.
• Model the relationship between bio-available concentrations of potentially toxic elements and resistance traits for major antibiotic classes such as tetracycline or beta lactams.
• Assess soil contamination by comparing total versus bio-available concentrations for elements including arsenic, chromium, and mercury.

Strengths

• Includes data on nearly 300 distinct antimicrobial resistance genes covering major antibiotic classes.
• Covers 12 potentially toxic elements with both total and bio-available concentration measurements.
• Samples represent a spectrum of landscape conditions from 24 distinct rural and urban locations.

Limitations

• Limited to 24 sampling sites, providing a localized snapshot rather than a broad regional survey.
• Data is from a single sampling expedition in June 2016, lacking temporal depth or seasonal variation.
• Analysis requires integrating three separate data files for genes, metals, and PAHs.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

High-throughput analysis of soil samples collected from top 15 cm at 24 locations.

Time Range

June 2016

Freshness

null

Geography

Northeastern England, around Newcastle upon Tyne